Perforating device



March 7, 1939. D A BRENNAN 2,149,268

PERFORATING DEVICE Filed May 29, '1957 5 Sheets--SheeI l March 7, 1939. D. A. BRENNAN PERFORATING DEVICE 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May March 7, 1939. D, A. BRENNAN 2,149,268

PERFORATING DEVICE Filed May 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 March 7, 1939. D. A. BRENNAN PERFORATING DEVICE Filed lay 29, 1937 5 Sheets-Shea?l 4 March 7, 1939. D` A, BRENNAN 2,149,268

PERFORATING DEVIGE Filed May 29, `19s7 5 sheets-sheet 5 if l ff ,2a

UNITED' STATES- PATENT ori-nica 2.14am 'momma nevica l Daniel .4. Brennan, annuo, n1. application my 2s, 1m, serial No. 145,411

1s calms. (ci. 14u- 91)v The invention relates to perforating devices and more particularly to portable devices adapted for perforating sheets of paper or the like to facilitate binding thereof with fasteners or the 5 like in nies or binders. f

An object lof kthe inventionis to provide a simple and eiiicient perforating device embodying features to be described hereinafter to minimize frictional resistance between movable parts during 1 the operation thereof.

Another object is to provide a perforating device with emcient, simpleV and inexpensive means to support vertical perforating elements or punches rigidly in position.

15 Another object is to provide a perforating device with novel means to positively withdraw the perforating elements after they have performed the punching operation. v l

Another object is to provide a perforating de- 20, vice with readily adjustable means to gauge the sheets to be punched and novel means to detachably retain said means in any predetermined position. a

Another object is to provide a perforating del 25 vice of the character referred to with novel means in the base thereof to clearly indicate the position of adjustment of the gauging means.

Another object is to provide a perforating device with novel means tosupport the base thereof.

so Another object is to provide'a sturdy and eilicient perforating device embodying several practical improvements and especially a device the principle parts of which may be constructed of sheet metal economically.

35 The foregoing and such other objects of the invention, as will appear hereinafter .as the-de scription proceeds, will be more readily understood from a perusal of the following specication. reference being had to the accompanying 40 drawings, in which:

v Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of oneembodiment ofthe perforating device, showing parts in elevation.

Fig. 2 isa sectional view taken on"'line 2-2 of Fig.,1. y

. Fig. 3 is a planA view of the perforatin'g device.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the punch' guide standards.

" s-s of Fig. s.

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view y 60 Fig. 10 is a rear elevational view of another Fig. is a vertical sectional view taken on line' form of perforating device, showing portions partially broken away.

Fig. 11 is a vertical sectional view, taken on line iI-II of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modlfied construction showing parts in elevation.

Fig. 13 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line II-II of Fig. 12.

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary sectional view showing another modified f orm of construction. l

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of one of the punch guide standards showing another modifled form of construction.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view, similar kto Fig. 14, showing a modified form of construction.

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line I1-I1 of Fig. 16. w

Fig. l18 is a fragmentary plan view of a perforating device embodying a modied form of gauge bar.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on line IO-Il of Fig. 18. y

Fig. 20 is a fragmentary plan view of the perforating device base shown with a modified form of gauge bar.

Fig. 21 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the perforator base showing another modified 'form of gauge bar. partially broken away.

Fig. 22 is a fragmentary plan view, similar to Fig. 18, showing another modified form of gauge bar.

Fig. 23 is airagmentary plan view of a perforator base showingagauge bar of modifiedv construction.

Fig. 24 is a transverse vertical sectional view through a perfor-ating device base, showing another form of gauge bar.

Fig. 25 is a sectional view. similar to Fig. 24, showing another form of ga'uge bar.

Fig. 26 is an elevational view of the gauge bar shown in Fig. 25.

Fig. 27 is a view, similar to Fig. 25, illustrating a gauge bar embodying other modified details.

Referring to the drawings, the perforating device illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, includes a base I I, which preferably is made of any suitable sheet material, such as steel, having its marginal edge portions bent downwardly to provide side walls I2 and end walls I3. The front end of the base may be rounded, as best shown in Fig. 3, with the end wall I3 thereof merging with side walls I2. The base II preferably is raised from its support by yieldable foot members I4, three of which preferably are provided. The upper end of each foot member preferably is slotted to frictionally ern--y held 1n place.

l Two. or more punch guide standards I8 are riveted or otherwise secured to`suitable raised portions I1 on the base I I. Ii' desired the portions I1 may be omittedor formed on the standards. Each standard" I6 preferably is formed o f sheet metal suitably bent, as best shown in Fig. 4, vto provide a bottom wall `|8 and parallel upwardly extending side walls or ears I9. A portion of one ofsaid side walls is bent horizontally to rest upon the upper edge of the other side wall to provide a top wall 2 I. The bottom wall I8 and top wall 2| of each standard, are provided with registering openings 22 and 23, respectively,'to receive and guide a punch 24. It is obvious that the two openings provide a rigid guide permitting only vertical movement of the punches.

Each punch 24 normally is held in its uppermost position by a suitable compression spring 25 mounted therearound between a collar 28 and the bottom Wall I8 of the respective punch guide standard. An operating handle 21 preferably ,is provided with U-shaped arms 28, one of which is pivotally mounted by a pin 29 to each standard therebeneath, whereby upon movement of said handle downwardly the rollers engage and urge said punches downwardly, through the die openings 33 in the base II, for perforating a sheet of paper inserted beneath the standards I6. The

springs 25 return the punches and handle 21 to their normal raised positions which movement is limited by engagement` of the rear end walls 34 of the arms with the edges of the walls I9 of the standards.

It is apparent from the foregoing that the punches 24 are freely moved vertically by operation of the handle 21 with a minimum amount of frictional resistance due to the rolling engagement between the rollers 32 and the punches. The pieces of paper punched through the die openings 33 drop onto the inclined en'd wall 35 of a receiving pan 36, which preferably is frictionally h eld to the underside of the base vII by binding engagement with the side walls I2. A flange 31 preferably is formed on the forward end of said pan to facilitate its removal for emptying. An indicator 38 is provided to facilitate locating the sheets for proper spacing of perforations, which in this embodiment constitutes a depressable button for a purpose to become more apparent as -the description proceeds.

A depression 39, slotted at each end as at 4|, is provided in the top wall of the base to afford a support for a gauge bar 42 which extends beneath the base through registering slots in the side walls thereof. The gauge bar 42 preferably has a gauging portion 43 at one end and a plurality of spaced apart indicating markings 44 and apertures 45 on its face. At least one of the apertures 45 is adapted normally to be engaged by a detent projection 46 on the free end of a leaf spring 41, best shown in Fig. 5, which has its other end secured to the base The indicator button 38, previously referred to, is mounted on spring 41 and extends through an opening in the base whereby upon depressing said indicator but- Y ton, the detent projection 46 is moved out of engagement with hole 45 and the gauge bar may then be freely slid transversely of the base into release of the indicator button. 'Ihus the gauge v bar. although being movable freely into various predetermined positions, is firmly held in any such position until released by the readily accessible indicator button| 38.

In the forms of -the perforating device illustrated in the remaining figures of the drawings, various parts thereof are identical with corresponding parts of the structure hereinbefore described and like numerals identify like parts. y

In Fig. 6 the punch guide standards Ia (only one being shown) are each formed of a strip of material bent ,to provide top, bottom, and rear walls 2|, I8 and 48, respectively. As shown, the rear wall 48 is inclined downwardly from the top wall 2| to the base and extends along said base a suiiicient distance to receive rivet 49. The end portion of the strap is bent upwardly and over upon itself to provide a bearing to receive the pin 29 securing one arm 28 of the handle 21 thereto. Excessive upward movement of the handle 21 due to the action of punch springs 25 is restrained by engagement of the rear edge 34a of each arm with the top of base II.

The structure shown in Fig. 7 is substantially like that illustrated in Fig. 6 except that the base I is upset at |1 to provide a rest for each standard |612 whereby its forward portion is spaced above the base I In the perforating device illustrated in Fig. 8, each punch guide standard |60 (only one being shown) is formed of sheet metal bent to provide a cup-shaped portion 52 at its forward end and spaced apart rearwardly extending side walls or ears |9c. The bottom of the cup-shaped portion 52 has an axial flanged opening 22 to receive the lower end of punch 24. A collarv 53, securely mounted near the upper end of the punch 24,

co-operates with the inside face of the cup portion to maintain the punch in sliding vertical alignment.

The device illustrated in Fig. 9 also has punch guide Standards each preferably formed of sheet metal bent to provide spaced apart side walls or ears |9d. A flanged guide sleeve 54 is welded or otherwise secured to the inside face of the bottom wall I8, in registration with the punch opening 22, around which the lower portion of expansion spring 25 is disposed.

In the modified form of perforating device illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11, each standard |6e is formed of a metal strap in a manner similar to the standards illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 to provide top and bottom walls 2| and I8, respectively, and inclined rear wall 48. A portion 55 is struck from each rear wall 48 to provide bearings for links 55 which also are pivotally secured one to each arm 28 of handle 21. The laterally shiftable connection between handle 21' and standards |6e is necessary in this assembly because each punch 24 is secured by a pin 51 to the respective arm 28. The downwardly turned end portion 34 of each arm 28 engages the respective bearing portion 55 to limit upward movement of the handle. s

In the perforating device illustrated in Figs. 1'2' and 13, each arm 28 of handle 21 is mounted in a standard |6f (only one shown) by pin 29 which operates in a slot 58 provided at the rear end of each of the side walls 9i of each standard to permit lateral shifting of the handle when depressed to carry the punch 24 vertically downwardly through the papers to be perforated. In -this structure, however, a leaf spring 59, forked at 6|, co-operates with a circumferential groove 62 in its associated punch normally to retain the punch lyvide an operative connection therewith. The

l l aisance 'l elevated.- Opposed recesses or notches 02 on'tlie edges vof said springs adjacent their forward ends'. embrace the end margins ll of vertical slot Il in the front wallof each standard for guiding and maintaining the lpunch vertical.

Each arm 2l of the handle 21o! the perforati'ng device shown in` Fig; 14 has a .downwardly and inwardly turned forked .extension 81 on its 4pivotally mounted end, each of which embraces one punch 2l at the circumferential groove It to prosprings 2l bear against the respective extensions I1 to "maintain the punches raised. Upward movement ofthe punches and handle are limited byengagement of the end Il ofeach extension with the respective top walls 2id' of standards In Fig. 15 the side walls Ish of each standard (only one shown) are slotted at 1I to receive the ends offa horizontally disposedpin 12. The pin 12 carries a roller 12 which engages the top of the associated punch 2l for carrying the punch downwardly upon downward movement of the handle 21 whichbears against the upper side of the pin 12 on each side of roller 12. The parts are maintained in this normal -elevated position by compression spring 28.

In the perforating device illustrated' in Figs. 16 and 1'1 the punch 2l has a pin 1l at its upper end upon'which rollers 15 are freelyl mounted. The sidewalls 1I of the respective arms 28 of kthe handle 21 co-operate with the rollers 1S to carry a the punch downwardly upon depression of the handle. `The compression spring 2l returns the punchvand handle to normal position upon release. To maintain thepunch vertical at all .times thepin 1l extends through vertical slots 11 in the spaced sidewalls IM of standard |01 `which preferably is" formed of sheet material bent and apertured on itsrear end to receive the pin 29. A modified form of mounting for the foot l IM also is illustrated. The foot |41' (Fig. 17) has a portion 'Il of reduced diameter which extends `through an opening in a horizontally bent lip 1lformed by striking inwardly a portion of the' side wallsl2ofba'sell. v

y The perforating device illustrated in Figs. 18 and 19 may embody any of the previously described types of standards'lt and punch mountings but,in this instance, incorporates a modified arrangement for gauging the sheet to be punched. Asbest shown in Fig. -18, the slidabie gauge 42a,

, havinga gauging portion I3 atA its ends, is insertable beneath the base'through slot Il in'one side wall I2, slots ll'atrthe ends of the depressed portion 39'and slot 82 in the opposed side flange I2. The gauge barlhas a longitudinal slit l2 extending inwardly from the gauging portion end 43 terminating short of the opposedend of the gauge bar whereby'said gauge bar normally is spread apart to frictionally bind against the edges of slots Il to maintain said gauge bar iny any predetermined position of adjustment. To release the gauge bar for shifting, its slit end is lcompressed. v If desired, one or both longitudinal edges ofthe gauge bar may be serrated, as at 84, to increase the tendency of the bar to remain in an adjusted position. To retain the bar in position markings I4 which are selectively aligned with the offset edge l1 of one of the slots 4I.

The gauge bar illustrated in Fig. 20 is substantially like that shown in Fig. 18 except that a yieldable rod .l extends the entire length of the gauge bar 42h and is secured at Il to one end thereof. In operation, the rod 8l is squeezed toward the gauge bar to disengage said bar from frictional engagement with the edge 8| of slot,' whichl edge as well as the rods Il may be corru- V normaliyspread 'apart portions 92 to frictionally engage the side walls of thedepressed portion 29 of the base I I when thc bar is withdrawn to nearly its extreme limit.

In the perforating device illustrated in Fig, 22, the gauge bar 52d has a plurality of spaced notches l2 on one edge for reo-operative engagement with edge of slot 8| in the side wall I2 of base Il. A suitable spring 04 normally retains the' gauge bar in position for engagement by any one of the notches with the wall.l2. The notch is disengaged upon moving the gauge bar transversely into the position shown in dotted lines and shifting it laterally.

In Fig. 23 the gauge bar 42e has a longitudinal slot 2i suitably notched at 58 for engagement with a detent projection preferably formed in the depressed portion Il of the base II. The spring 94 normally retains one of the notches in engagement with detent 01 and upon transverse move` ment of the gauge bar into the dotted line posi` tion said bar may be shifted longitudinally to position another of the notches 96 for engagement with projection l1. In this embodiment the indicating markings M are coincident with notches ll.

The gauge bar I2f, shown in Fig. 24, preferably y is made from yieldable material, such as spring together by a suitable rivet |02. It is obvious that,' -when the gauge bar 42g is inserted through the various slots in the 'base' Il, the normal tendency of the two thicknesses of spring material to spread apart maintains said gauge bar in any position of adjustment from which it may readily be shifted into any other desired position by momentarily squeezing the two thicknesses together.

In Fig. 27 the gauge bar 42h is held with one of its spaced holes n in engagement with a detent Il in" the base H by a suitable spring I 03 which may be held in place on an inwardly turned lip IM provided on the lower edge of one side wall I2 by pin Ill.

It is to be understood that any of the various types of standards and novel means for mounting and operating the punches disclosed may be readily incorporated in any of the several perforating devices illustrated and that said perforating'devices also may readily embody any one of the various forms of gauge bars disclosed herein. It is, therefore, not desired to limit the invention to the it should be understood that the improved perforating devices may embodyvarious other details without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

1. A perforating device including, a base, standards secured to said base, each having a guide opening, a plurality of punches one slidable in each guide opening, a transverse groove in each punch, a leaf spring in each standard'slotted to engage the respective punch at the groove, said spring being guided in said standards to retain the punches vertical, an\ operating handle loosely journaled on said standards, and pins one connecting each punch to said handle.

2. A perforating device including, a base, standards secured to said base each having a guide opening and parallel side Walls, a fulcrum pin mounted in each standard, a plurality of punches one slidable in each guide opening, a pin in each punch extending through vertical slots inv each a gauge bar slidably in said slots beneath the top and over the depressed portion having indicating markings spaced along its length, and a shoulder on one edge of one of said parallel slots forming a pointer adapted to co-operate with said markings to assist determination of the relative position of said gauge bar with said device.

4. In a perforating device, the combination with a base having a depressed portion slotted at opposite sides, of a gauge bar slidable beneath said base and extending through said lslots, a gauging portion on one end of said gauge bar, a slit in said bar extending longitudinally from said end normally holding portions of said bar spread apart, a plurality of spaced indicating markings on said bar, and serrations along one edge of the bar adapted to co-act with the base.

5. In a perforating device, the combination with a base provided with a depressed portion slotted at opposite sides and. side walls having slots aligning with the depressed portion slots, of means for positioning sheets to be perforated including a gauge bar slidable in said slots and having a gauging portion at one end and indieating-'markings on its face, said gauge bar being slit longitudinally inwardly from the end having the gauging portion to permit compressing whereby said gauge bar may'be released from its frictional retained position of .adjustment.

6. In a perforating device, the combination with a base, of means for positioning sheets to be perforated including a bar slidable in said base, said bar having a gauging portion at one edge and indicating markings on its face, a plurality of.

wardly from one end normally holding the side I portions of said bar spread apart, and a nger piece on'each portion of said bar at the slit end. said nger pieces forming gauging portions.

8. In a perforating device, the combination with a base, of means for positioning sheets to be periorated which include a gauge bar slidable in said base and having' a gauging portion at one end and indicating markings on its face, and a yieldable element co-extensive with said gauge bar secured at one end to the opposite end of said gauge bar.

9. In a 4perforating device, thel combination with a base including a depressed portion slotted at each side, of a gauge bar slidable beneath said base'and extending through said slots, said gauge bar having slits extending inwardly from each end normally holding the side portions of said bar spread apart, and finger pieces at one end of said bar, said ilnger pieces forming gauging prtions.

10. In a perforating device, the combination with a base, of means for positioning sheets to be perforated including a gauge bar slidable in said base, said bar having a gauging portion at one end and a plurality of notches on one edge to co-operate with the base for retaining theI gauge bar in predetermined positions of adjustment relative to said base, and yieldable means on said bar to retain said notches and base in engagement.

11. In a perforating device, the-combination with a base provided with a depressed portion slotted at opposite ends, of means for positioning sheets to be perforated including a gauge bar extending beneath said base and slidable in said slots, said gauge bar being made of spring material folded upon itself to normally spread apart whereby the base and depressed portion are frictionally engaged to retard free sliding oi said gauge bar.

12. In a perforating device, the combination with a base, of means for positioning sheets to be perforated which include a gauge bar slidable in said base and having indicating markings on its face, and a movable portion joined at one end to one end of and constituting a part of said gauge bar, and a nger piece on the free end of each portion of said gauge bar, said finger pieces forming gauging portions.

13. In a perforating device, the combination with a base having a depressed portion slotted at opposite sides, of a gauge bar slidable beneath said base and extending through said slots, a gauging portion on one end of said gauge bar, and a stop at the other end.y

14. lIn a perforating device, the combination with a base having a depressed portion slotted at opposite sides, of a gauge bar slidable beneath said base and extending through said slots, or gauging portion on one end of said gauge bar, said gauge bar being slit longitudinally inwardly from the end having the gauging portion, and a stop at the other end.

l5. In a perforating device, the combination with a base having a depressed portion slotted at opposite sides, said depressed portion having a slotted aperture opening on one edge thereof, of a gauge bar slidable beneath said base and extending through said slots, a gauging portion on one end of said gauge bar, and a stop at the other end to co-act with said slotted aperture when` the gauge bar is shifted longitudinally in one direction.

DANIEL A. BRENNAN. i 

